Uber Driver Arrested After Teen Dies From Car Surfing Fall: DA

An Uber driver was arrested on Sunday for allowing his teenage passengers to "car surf" on top of his moving vehicle in Huntington, which led to 15-year-old Ryan Mullen falling off and dying from his injuries in late September, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini announced on Monday.

The driver, 24-year-old Huntington Station resident Danyal Cheema, was indicted and charged with second-degree manslaughter.

“In this day and age, we often encourage people to use ride sharing services because it’s a safe alternative to drinking and driving,” Sini said in a press release. “These boys were doing that; they were drinking that night and they made the right decision to contract with a car service. Unfortunately the defendant made a reckless decision and engaged in reckless conduct that caused the death of a young boy, and he will be held accountable for that.”

Between 12:03 and 13:35 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23, the DA says Cheema was serving as an Uber driver for three teenage boys on Cove Road in Huntington when the passengers asked if they could ride on the roof of his moving vehicle in exchange for $70 cash. The boys ultimately paid Cheema $40, and they climbed onto the roof of the 2010 Toyota Highlander at an intersection, the DA says.

Mullen, a Cold Spring Harbor resident, remained on the roof of the vehicle while Cheema allegedly drove down Cove Road. Mullen then fell off the vehicle and struck his head on the roadway, suffering severe head trauma, the DA says. The incident was recorded on Snapchat by one of the teens in the vehicle, the DA says.

Cheema continued to drive the three teens to their destination, a residence in Huntington, the DA says. Mullen died from his injuries in his sleep later that day.

Mullen was a St. Anthony's High School student who was on track to graduate in 2020. "Ryan lived life so large and his time here was short," his obituary reads. "God had other plans for Ryan."

• Obituary: Ryan Spencer Mullen, 15, St. Anthony's HS Student

“This was an incredibly bad decision by [Cheema] and a bad decision by the boys involved,” Sini said. “But at the end of the day, [Cheema] is an adult who was contracted to safely bring those boys home and he failed to do that.”

Cheema’s bail was set at $200,000 cash or $400,000 bond. He faces a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison if convicted. His license was also suspended.

Cheema is due back in court on Sunday, Nov. 9.

Image via Suffolk DA